National Jewish Health

About: National Jewish Health is a healthcare organization based out in Denver, Colorado, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: T cell & Asthma. The organization has 883 authors who have published 833 publications receiving 79201 citations. The organization is also known as: National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

Electrospray Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Lipid Mediators Derived from Arachidonic Containing Membrane Phospholipids

Abstract: Arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14(Z,Z,Z,Z)- eicosatetraenoic acid) is one of the most common polyunsaturated fatty acids present within virtually all mammalian cells. Arachidonic acid plays an important role in biological chemistry because of its unique physical properties such as influencing membrane fluidity as well as serving as a source of a diverse family of oxidized metabolites known to play important physiological and pathophysiological roles within tissues. Even though a very small percentage of the total arachidonic acid within cells is ever involved in the oxidative reactions that lead to the formation of compounds such as prostaglandins [1] and leukotrienes [2], a considerable amount of effort has been placed in designing agents that either inhibit production of these molecules or block their actions. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes exert their biological activity through G-protein linked membrane receptors on the surface of cells, and these specific receptors are linked to numerous signal transduction processes, which lead to a myriad of biological responses mediated by these lipid products. The enzymes that form these lipid mediators utilize arachidonic acid only as a free carboxylic acid, and do not act on arachidonic acid while it is esterified to membrane phospholipids. This is rather curious because the majority of all arachidonate within cells exists in the plasma and organelle membranes in various phospholipid classes esterified to the sn-2 position [3]. The other curious feature of the enzymes responsible for the initial oxidation of arachidonic acid involves the formation of free radical intermediates which can readily react with molecular oxygen. The enzymes cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, 15-lipoxygenase, and 12-lipoxygenase utilize iron in various bound forms in the active site to initiate these free radical reactions. Within the active site, the chemical reactivity of these radical species is controlled, resulting in a stereospecific reaction mechanism.

Methods and compositions for treating infection and inflammation with selenocyanate

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions for treating pulmonary infections and inflammation with a composition comprising selenocyanate, hyposelenocyanite or a selenocyanate conjugate.

Summative Assessment

Abstract: Summative assessment is used to make judgements about student achievement. The summative assessment process occurs after instruction has taken place and once students have had the opportunity to learn content and skills. Summative assessment involves data-based decision making about which instructional goals were reached and about how well students demonstrated proficiency with those goals.

The somatically generated T cell receptor CDR3a contributes to the MHC allele specificity of the T cell receptor

Abstract: Mature T cells bearing ab T cell receptors react with foreign antigens bound to alleles of major histocompatibility complex proteins (MHC) that they were exposed to during their development in the thymus, a phenomenon known as positive selection. The structural basis for positive selection has long been debated. Here, using mice expressing one of two different T cell receptor b chains and various MHC alleles, we show that positive selection-induced MHC bias of T cell receptors is affected both by the germline encoded elements of the T cell receptor a and b chain and, surprisingly, dramatically affected by the non germ line encoded CDR3 of the T cell receptor a chain. Thus, in addition to determining specificity for antigen, the non germline encoded elements of T cell receptors may help the proteins cope with the extremely polymorphic nature of major histocompatibility complex products within the species.